There are science fiction stories based off this very idea.
http://www.sfwriter.com/excg.htm
The book isn't bad, and contains a significant number of neat ideas.
Basically, imagine if you could prove that the universe is cyclic, and that in the previous incarnation of the universe some "being" built and designed this cycle of the universe, with the goal of creating intelligent life.
Which leads to interesting questions, like "why", "how", and is this "god" still doing it?
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Aurthur C Clark.